Live updates

A family have escaped from a fire at their home which it's believed was started deliberately.

The blaze broke out at a property in Bassett Way in Kidlington at about 1.50am on Friday.

An offender/s is believed to have caused a fire to start at the front door of the property, which then spread.

The victims, a 50 year-old man, a 36-year-old woman and a five-year-old boy were able to escape the property via windows.

The man and the boy were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene by paramedics.

The woman was taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation. She has since been discharged.

“We believe that arson was the cause of this incident, which could have led to the death of three people, one of whom was a five-year-old child.

“Fortunately, they all managed to escape from the property, but the outcome could have been very different.

“We are conducting a full investigation into this incident, and I am therefore appealing for anyone who has any information which could relate to it to contact us by calling the non-emergency number 101.”

Advertisement

People are being warned to properly dispose of used cigarettes after a family home caught fire in Bournemouth.

Firefighters were called to the semi-detached house in Pilot Height Road at 5.30am and found first floor bedroom engulfed in flames. The fire started when the contents of an ashtray were tipped into a plastic bin containing tissues.

The family of four escaped uninjured after being alerted by their smoke alarms.

Credit: Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service are reminding people who smoke indoors to remember to ‘put it out – right out’ and:

Make sure cigarettes, cigars and pipes are properly extinguished when you have finished smoking.

Don’t leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended – they can easily over-balance as they burn down, and this could lead to a fire starting.

Never smoke in bed.

Use a proper ashtray that won’t tip over easily and is made of material that won’t burn.

Never tap ash or empty an ashtray into a wastepaper basket.

Make sure that ashtrays are emptied frequently, damping down the contents with water before disposing of them into a metal bin outside the home.

Take extra care if you smoke when you’re tired, taking prescription drugs or if you’ve been drinking. You might fall asleep and set your bed, sofa or clothing on fire.

Keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach.

Make sure your home has working smoke alarms and test them frequently.

Keeping pets safe at home is the focus of this year's electrical fire safety week in Wiltshire.

Animal lovers putting pets' lives at risk Credit: PA

The fire and rescue campaign says animal lovers are putting their pets at risk by exposing them to hazards such as leaving their mobiles phones unattended whilst charging.

2/3

of pet owners admit to leaving mobile phones charging unattended

65%

of pet owners say their pet would be a greater loss than material possessions in the event of a fire

One of the biggest fire hazards is the use of fake or sub-standard battery chargers, which are becoming ever more prevalent. With so many people now using mobile phones, MP3 players and even e-cigarettes, it can be tempting to save a bit of money and buy a non-branded charger, but these are often made with poor quality components that fail to meet UK safety regulations.”

An elderly man has died following a house fire in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Firefighters were called to a house on Preston Road yesterday evening. The 93-year-old man died at the scene. Thames Valley Police say his death is not being treated as suspicious.

Around 30 firefighters tackled a house fire near Romsey in the early hours of Sunday morning. It happened at Danes Road in Shootash around five thirty. It took two hours to bring the flames under control.

Thirty firefighters have been trying to get a fire under control at a house in Sussex. The blaze started in the roof of the building on Station Road in Billinghurst early this morning. Residents were escorted to safety - there are no reports of any injuries.

Thirty firefighters were called out to a house fire in Billinghurst this morning. The blaze started in the roof of the building in Station Road at about 4.30am. Residents were safely escorted out of the building, with no reports of injuries.